The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

WATER at Hawksbill Creek has overflowed onto the Fishing Hole Road and officials at the Grand Bahama Port Authority are looking into the cause of it.

It is believed that an enormous mound of fill that is being dumped and has piled up in the south side of the creek could be the cause of the overflow.

The flooding was not severe and commuters were able to travel yesterday along the causeway, which is prone to major flooding during hurricanes and high tides during severe weather.

Fishing Hole Road is a narrow, low-lying strip that crosses Hawksbill Creek, connecting Freeport and West Grand Bahama. There has been ongoing public outcry for a bridge to be built there to resolve the flooding problem. Successive governments had promised to address the long-standing issue for residents of West Grand Bahama and Queen’s Cove.

Arthur Jones, senior vice president of Building and Development at the Grand Bahama Port Authority, confirmed to The Tribune that fill is being relocated to the creek due to plans for developments in the area. He reported that the Grand Bahama Harbour Company is preparing to undertake another phase of development at the Freeport Harbour.

“They are going to be doing another phase of development at the harbour soon and they are relocating fill (there) … to help in their planning,” Mr Jones, an engineer, said.

He said that as the area is low lying the flooding was predicted. “I know it was predicted because high astronomical tides are caused by the lunar cycle going on. I am told that warnings were sent out in the South Florida area predicting flooding and they did have serious flooding in Miami yesterday, especially around Indian Creek. It is not the fill in the creek that is causing it. Mr Jones promised to determine the cause.

The government announced earlier this year that it will undertake work at Fishing Hole Road to resolve flooding in the area. They plan to raise the causeway and install culverts beneath it so that water can flow between the north and south side of the creek. It is not known when the work will be undertaken.

Arthur Jones said that as the area is low lying the flooding was predicted. “I know it was predicted because high astronomical tides are caused by the lunar cycle going on. I am told that warnings were sent out in the South Florida area predicting flooding and they did have serious flooding in Miami yesterday, especially around Indian Creek. It is not the fill in the creek that is causing it.”